The latest generation of the Audi A6 Avant has broken cover, bringing with it impressive boot and utility space, as well as a sleek aerodynamic design.

Based on the current A6 sedan, the Avant's 4 940 mm long and 1 470 mm tall frame incorporates 565 litres of boot space and 1 680 litres of utility space.

A  loading width of 1 050 mm, as well as standard fitment 40:20:40 electrically folding rear seat backs and an electrically operated tailgate, make access to the Avant's spacious innards a cinch. The luggage compartment also has a railing system that owners can use to individually position four lashing points to secure cargo.

Estates are not renowned for being aerodynamically slippery, but the A6 Avant a sports an impressive drag coefficient of just 0,27. The Avant's body retains the steel and aluminium composite construction utilised by the A6 sedan.

The Avant also inherits all of the A6 Sedan’s engines, including a new 48 V mild-hybrid system that pairs a belt alternator starter with a lithium-ion battery. The start-stop function kicks in up to 22 km/h, with the engine being restarted from standstill “predictively” when the vehicle in front of the sedan starts moving. During deceleration, the system recovers up to 12 kW of energy, which Audi says will help to reduce “real-world” fuel consumption by up to 0,7 L/100 km.

Given South Africans' general disdain for Estates, it’s unlikely that we’ll see the A6 Avant reach our shores but, as with the previous generation, there’s always room for the smoking RS6.

Original article from Car